Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels

3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
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VOLUME AND WETTED AREA OF PARTIALLY FILLED VERTICAL VESSELS
SUMMARY
The calculation of the wetted area and volume of a vertical vessel is required for
engineering tasks such fire studies and the determination of level alarms and
control set points. However the calculation of these parameters is complicated by
the geometry of the vessel, particularly the heads. This article details formulae for
calculating the wetted area and volume of these vessels for various types of curved
ends including: hemispherical, torispherical, semi-ellipsoidal and bumped ends.
1. DEFINITIONS
A : Wetted Area
Di : Inside Diameter of Vessel

https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 1/18
Do : Outside Diameter of Vessel

h : Liquid level above vessel bottom
L : Length of vessel, tan-line to tan-line
Lf : Straight Flange
R : Inside Vessel Radius
Rc : Inside crown radius

Rk : Inside knuckle radius
t : Vessel Wall Thickness
Vp : Partially Filled Liquid Volume

Vt : Total Volume of head or vessel
z : Inside Dish Depth
ε : Eccentricity of elliptical heads
2. INTRODUCTION
The calculation of the liquid volume or wetted area of a partially filled vertical
vessel is best performed in parts, by calculating the value for the cylindrical section
of the vessel and the heads of the vessel and then adding the areas or volumes
together. Below we present the wetted area and partially filled volume for each type
of head and the cylindrical section.
The partially filled volume is primarily used for the calculation of tank filling times
and the setting of control set points, alarm levels and system trip points.
The wetted area is the area of contact between the liquid and the wall of the tank.
This is primary used in fire studies of process and storage vessels to determine the
emergency venting capacity required to protect the vessel. Unlike horizontal vessels,
it is not often required to know the surface area of a partially filled vertical vessel's
head and in this article we present formulae for completely filled heads only.
The volume and wetted area of partially filled horizontal vessels is covered
separately.
3. HEMISPHERICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

Hemispherical heads have a depth which is half their diameter. They have the
highest design pressures out of all the head types and as such are typically the most
expensive head type. The formula for calculating the wetted area and volume are
presented as follows.
3.1 Wetted Area
A = 2πRc h
3.2 Volume
For the bottom head:
πh2
V = (3Rc − h)
3
For the top head:
π
V = (2Rc3 − h2 (3Rc − h))
3
Where h is defined as the free space between the liquid surface and the top of the
head.
4. SEMI-ELLIPSOIDAL OR ELLIPTICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

The semi-ellipsoidal heads are shallower than the hemispherical heads and deeper
than the torispherical heads and therefore have design pressures and expense lying
between these two designs.
The most common variant of semi-ellipsoidal head is the 2:1 elliptical head which
has a depth equal to 1/4 of the vessel diameter. The formula for calculating the
wetted area and volume for the 2:1 semi-elliptical head are presented as follows.
4.1 Wetted Area

Note that this surface area formula is for a full head only.
πDi2 1 2ε + 2
Aw = (2 + ln ( ))
8 4ε √
2− 3
ε = √1 − 2
4z 2
Di
For a 2:1 semi-ellipsoidal head ε is equal to 0.866. The wetted area calculated using
this method does not include the straight flange of the head. The length of the
straight flange must be included in the calculation of the wetted area of the
cylindrical section.
4.2 Volume
h 2 h 3
(3 ( ) − ( ) )
π
Vp = Di3 C
24 z z
For the top head:
h 3
(3 ( ) − ( ) )
π h
Vp = Di3 C
24 z z
Where,
for ASME 2:1 Elliptical heads:
C = 1/2
for DIN 28013 Semi ellipsoidal heads:
t 2
+ 2.3227 ( )
t
C = 0.49951 + 0.10462
Do Do
The volume calculated does not include the straight flange of the head, only the
curved section. The straight flange length must be included in the calculation of the
volume of the cylindrical section.
5. TORISPHERICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

Torispherical heads are the most economical and therefore is the most common
head type used for process vessels. Torispherical heads are shallower and typically
have lower design pressures than semi-elliptical heads. The formula for the
calculation of the wetted area and volume of a partially filled torispherical head is
presented as follows.
5.1 Wetted Area

We can approximate the surface area of the torispherical head using the formula for
elliptical heads. This approximation will over estimate the surface area because a
torispherical head is flatter than a ellipsoidal head. This assumption is conservative
for pool fire relieving calculations.
πDi2 1 2ε + 2
Aw = (2 + ln ( ))
8 4ε 2 − √3
ε = √1 − 2
4z 2
Di
The wetted area calculated using this method does not include the straight flange of
the head. The length of the straight flange must be included in the calculation of the
wetted area of the cylindrical section.
5.2 Volume
h 2 h 3
(3 ( ) − ( ) )
π
Vp = Di3 C
24 z z
For the top head:
h 3
(3 ( ) − ( ) )
π h
Vp = Di3 C
24 z z
Where,
for ASME Torispherical heads:
Rk − 0.06Do t 2
+ 0.98997 ( )
t
C = 0.30939 + 1.7197 − 0.16116
Di Do Do
for DIN 28011 Torispherical heads:
t 2
+ 1.3762 ( )
t
C = 0.37802 + 0.05073
Do Do
The volume calculated does not include the straight flange of the head, only the
curved section. The straight flange length must be included in the calculation of the
volume of the cylindrical section.
6. BUMPED HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

Bumped heads have the lowest cost but also the lowest design pressures, unlike
torispherical or ellipsoidal heads they have no knuckle. They are typically used in
atmospheric tanks, such as horizontal liquid fuel storage tanks or road tankers. Due
to the low strength and poor draining qualities of this head type it is rarely used for
vertical vessels.
Here we present formulae for calculated the wetted area and volume for an
arbitrary liquid level height in a single Bumped head.
6.1 Wetted Area
A = 2πRc h
6.2 Volume
πh2
V = (3Rc − h)
3
For the top head:
π
V = (2Rc3 − h2 (3Rc − h))
3
Where h is defined as the free space between the liquid surface and the top of the
head.
7. CYLINDRICAL SECTION - VERTICAL VESSEL

Here we present formulae for calculated the wetted area and volume for an
arbitrary liquid level height in the cylindrical section of a vertical drum.
7.1 Wetted Area
A = πDi h
7.2 Volume
π 2
Vp = Di h
4
Where the vessel has torispherical or ellipsoidal heads the straight flange length of
the head should be included in the cylindrical section length when calculating the
volume or surface area.
8. REFERENCES
1. B Wiencke, 2009, Computing the partial volume of pressure vessels
2. R Doane, 2007, Accurate Wetted Areas for Partially Filled Vessels
3. E Ludwing, 1997, Applied Process Design for Chemical and Petrochemical Plants
(Volume 2)
Article Created: November 4, 2014

   
ARTICLE TAGS
Bumped Cylindrical Dished Hemispherical Liquid Level Partially Filled
Torospherical Vertical Drum Vessel Vessel Head Volume Wetted Area
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3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium

VOLUME AND WETTED AREA OF PARTIALLY FILLED VERTICAL VESSELS

Di : Inside Diameter of Vessel

Do : Outside Diameter of Vessel

Rc : Inside crown radius

Vp : Partially Filled Liquid Volume

3. HEMISPHERICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

3.1 Wetted Area

For the top head:

4. SEMI-ELLIPSOIDAL OR ELLIPTICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

4.1 Wetted Area

For the top head:

for ASME 2:1 Elliptical heads:

for DIN 28013 Semi ellipsoidal heads:

5. TORISPHERICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

5.1 Wetted Area

For the top head:

for ASME Torispherical heads:

for DIN 28011 Torispherical heads:

6. BUMPED HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

6.1 Wetted Area

For the top head:

7. CYLINDRICAL SECTION - VERTICAL VESSEL

7.1 Wetted Area

2. R Doane, 2007, Accurate Wetted Areas for Partially Filled Vessels

Article Created: November 4, 2014

Bumped Cylindrical Dished Hemispherical Liquid Level Partially Filled

Torospherical Vertical Drum Vessel Vessel Head Volume Wetted Area

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© 2019 Native Dynamics | Contact | Copyright and Disclaimer

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